Latest news with #DeadEnd
!['Exit 8' is an Exceptional Liminal Thriller and the Best Video Game Adaptation Ever Made [Cannes 2025 Review]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fusercontent.one%2Fwp%2Fwww.businessmayor.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F05%2F1748091657_039Exit-8039-is-an-Exceptional-Liminal-Thriller-and-the-Best.jpg%3Fmedia%3D1711454622&w=3840&q=100)
!['Exit 8' is an Exceptional Liminal Thriller and the Best Video Game Adaptation Ever Made [Cannes 2025 Review]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic-mobile-files.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbusinessmayor.png&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
Business Mayor
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Mayor
'Exit 8' is an Exceptional Liminal Thriller and the Best Video Game Adaptation Ever Made [Cannes 2025 Review]
I've long been fascinated by what I call No Exit Horror , a term I've coined for a sub-genre rooted in existential dread, where characters are trapped in singular, oppressive spaces they cannot escape. Think of such liminal space thrillers as Cube , Dead End , Pontypool , or even The Shining . I took the name from French writer/philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, of course, and like his play No Exit , these films trap their characters not just in rooms but in loops of self-denial, regret, or moral indecision. Genki Kawamura's masterful Exit 8 , which just had its eerie and unforgettable premiere in the Cannes Midnight Screenings section, uses this trope so effectively that it might just be the most exceptional video game adaptation ever made. Adapted from a cult Japanese video game, Exit 8 follows 'The Lost Man,' played with raw and adorable restraint by Kazunari Ninomiya ( Letters from Iwo Jima , Gantz ). On a tedious underground commute home from his desk job, he quickly finds himself trapped in an endless underground subway corridor, forced to detect subtle anomalies, glitches in reality, that signal whether it's safe to proceed to the next exit, aka level. He loops back to the beginning if he misses something out of place. It's the perfect metaphor for the paralysis of modern professional life, trapped in the endless maze designed by the evils of capitalism: the hallway, sterile and endless, is less a location than a state of mind. He is, quite literally, going nowhere. And I'm sure most of us can find it relatable on some level . Exit 8 is more than just a stylish horror experiment or the astute staging of a unique and inexpensive IP. It's a tragic and intimate character study following a broken hero's journey where the monster isn't lurking around a corner. The Lost Man is on his way home from a job he clearly loathes. He's exhausted, emotionally disconnected, and stuck in the passive inertia of a life he never truly chose. And then, suddenly, fatherhood looms. Read More BioWare restructures around Mass Effect The great twist of Exit 8 is that its horror and drama are mostly emotional, not supernatural or sci-fi. Kawamura has crafted a film about the terror of becoming a parent before you're ready. About accepting love when you're not sure you're worthy. The anomaly in this man's life isn't a shadowy figure or an off-kilter passageway. Instead, it's the terrifying prospect of loving someone more than yourself. And being loved in return. The hallway becomes purgatory for a man who can't admit he's scared—scared of responsibility, commitment, and growing up. Ninomiya's performance is essential here. It's not flashy, but it's deep. He expertly plays emotional numbness, with shoulders sloped under decades of unspoken guilt and generational/gender expectation. There's a quiet beauty in how little he says and how much he shows. When change finally comes, it's not triumphant. It's terrifying. And it's earned. As The Lost Man repeats the corridor again and again, each loop becomes a step along a fractured, nonlinear path toward emotional accountability. He isn't trying to escape. He's trying to accept. He's trying to become someone capable of being loved, and of loving in return. And that might be the scariest journey a horror movie has ever asked of a man. And he's not alone. The eerie and quick introduction of 'The Walking Man' is frightening, then tragic. A perfect side quest during an already pristine mainline story. The atmosphere in Exit 8 draws on a similar liminal energy felt in brilliant liminal horror projects like P.T. and The Backrooms, but where those stories revel in abstract terror, Kawamura's film weaponises drama and character study with a teaspoon of hope. Ultimately, there isn't a clear resolution. But it does provide reflection. It asks what happens to those of us who live on autopilot. Those who accept careers we hate, relationships we don't nurture, and the futures we never chose. It's about how modern men inherit silence and mistake it for strength. And how love … real, scary, adult love … demands presence and vulnerability. It demands that you exit the loop. With Exit 8 , Genki Kawamura has crafted a haunting cautionary tale for the emotionally paralysed. It's a masterpiece of 'No Exit Horror': intimate, tragic, and impressively human. Forget boss battles, this is a video game adaptation where the final level is fatherhood, and like the process of being born, the only way out is through. Summary Genki Kawamura's masterful 'Exit 8' expertly draws on a liminal horror, character study, and realist drama to craft the best video game adaptation of all time. Tags: Cannes 2025 Exit 8 Featured Post Genki Kawamura Categorized:News Reviews
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Bad Sisters' Execs Ready New European Series ‘Dead End' For An English-Language Remake
EXCLUSIVE: A trio of key creative forces on Apple TV+'s Bad Sisters say their Flemish comedy-drama Dead End is primed for an English-language remake. Malin-Sarah Gozin, who created the Belgian series on which Bad Sisters was made and co-created the Apple show, is attending Canneseries with fellow producers Brett Baer and Dave Finkel with quirky drama Dead End, which is playing in competition. Gozin has directed Dead End with Hans Vercauter. More from Deadline 'Bridgerton' Star Nicola Coughlan Trashes UK Supreme Court Ruling On Definition Of A Woman 'S Line' Director Jooyoung Ahn On The Canneseries Drama, Pushing Society's Boundaries & The Future Of Korean TV 'Pachinko' Creator Soo Hugh Says "Studios Have To Figure Out What A Library Is" The show is a six-part drama out of Belgium starring Peter Van den Begin and Elise Schaap about a man with a peculiar eating disorder that makes him a potentially tasty aid to police – he can see the final moments of whatever he puts in his mouth. Federation Studios recently picked up international sales rights to the finished tape, but Gozin, Baer and Finkel are eyeing an English-language remake, akin to Bad Sisters. 'Whether it's an American version or an English-language version, that has been the game plan all along,' said Baer, who along with production and writing partner Finkel is known for work on shows such as New Girl and United States of Tara. 'Bad Sisters was an eight-year process for us – and even longer for Malin – to get it into production, so how do we shorten that process, especially with the industry as it is right now? Recognising that Dead End is unique and extraordinary, Malin does an incredible job with the Flemish version, then we have this piece of IP to be able to say 'Trust us, it works.' This is hopefully the shortcut for us to take it to other audiences.' Gozin, who is among Europe's top creative screenwriters, was itching to team with Baer and Finkel after their experience on Bad Sisters, she revealed. 'On Bad Sisters, we vibed so well. I could immediately feel like we share the fascination for the genre blend and how to use dark comedy as a grammar to talk about something real. At the same time, not being afraid of digging deeper.' She noted that it is one thing to sell a foreign-language scripted title to an American or other English-language buyer, but that the chemistry with the local producer had to click for success. 'You can sell the format, but then you have to look for the creatives who really understand the heart of the show,' she said. 'Often you don't have a say in it, so it's Russian roulette. When I met these guys, it was like 'finally.' They fell in love for the right reasons.' Finkel added: 'What we fell in love with originally many years ago when we saw Clan – and then when we first met Malin and when we worked on Bad Sisters – was the synergy of what she has been trying to do by creating these universes and giving the audience something that is gripping, bizarre, unique, dramatic, gruesome and surprising. When she pitches an idea like that, you immediately can see seasons of expanse going deeper and deeper into the characters.' The series – which is for Play Media and Streamz in Belgium and comes from Lompvis and Caviar – stars Tabula Rasa's Peter van den Begin as the unfortunate Ed, who wants to put his unusual gift to good use but struggles with the life it has given him. The producers and stars were in Cannes over the weekend with the show, which is competing against the likes of Belgian-German co-pro How to Kill Your Sister, Korean drama S Line and Norway's Nepobaby among others. 'In general, I like these unique universes where you start from a crazy concept and then try to dig into it and look for something relatable,' said Gozin. 'The crazy idea came from when I had food poisoning from a rotten strawberry, and I started thinking about the concept.' 'Bad Sisters' Season 3 Update Gozin noted that a third season of Apple TV+ comedy-drama Bad Sisters remains on the boil. She told Deadline that 'nothing has been confirmed yet' in regards to a third run of the Apple show, which stars Sharon Horgan, Eve Hewson and Anne-Marie Duff among others. Baer added: 'Sharon, who has more direct involvement with Apple UK, has been a little coy about it in interviews recently. She has a new show that she's just started working on, so I'm not sure.'Best of Deadline Everything We Know About The 'Reminders of Him' Movie So Far Everything We Know About 'The Phoenician Scheme' So Far Everything We Know About 'Another Simple Favor' So Far
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Egypt's Mohamed Karim Boards Brian Skiba's Desert Race Thriller ‘Dead End' As Star & Producer
EXCLUSIVE: Egyptian actor Mohamed Karim is set to star in Brian Skiba's desert race thriller Dead End, which will shoot in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and Arizona in 2026. Karim was recently seen in Skiba's western adventure Gunslingers, which starred Nicholas Cage, Heather Graham and Stephen Dorff, and hit theaters in the U.S. in April. For this latest collaboration, Karim will star and produce under his MK Global Entertainment banner. More from Deadline 'Bad Sisters' Execs Ready New European Series 'Dead End' For An English-Language Remake Miriam Margolyes & Stephen Fry Set For UK Short; Nordisk Film Production Hire; Federation Lands Latest Series From 'Bad Sisters' Co-Creator - Global Briefs 'How To Kill Your Sister': Director Of Canneseries Competition Entry Talks Timelessness, Roadtrips & The "Absurdity" Of Belgian Content Kirk Shaw (Ambitious Entertainment) joins as a producer, bringing experience on more than 200 productions including Academy Award-winning drama The Hurt Locker. Karim will star as Nixon Callahan,a former street racing legend, has been hiding in Cairo, haunted by a tragic past. When forced into one last drive, he must confront his demons. Teaming with a rogue mechanic, he must survive a deadly cross-desert run, navigating outlaw bikers, assassins, and a global syndicate, all while transporting a mysterious trunk that's worth killing for. The film will be shot in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and Arizona in 2026, with further cast members to be announced soon. Combining a blend of Middle Eastern roots and Hollywood experience, Karim has long been a major player in the Middle East's film and television community. A GQ Middle East's Man of the Year in 2022 and the former host of The Voice Arabia, Karim's feature MENA feature credits include Shahata's Store and Stolen Kisses. The producers are planning to showcase Dead End at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Film Festival and market in Saudi Arabia in December. Best of Deadline 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? Everything We Know About The 'Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' Movie So Far Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Norway Dominates Canneseries Awards With Wins For ‘A Better Man' & ‘Nepobaby'
Norway has walked away from Canneseries as the big winner this year. Two series from the Scandinavian country, A Better Man and Nepobaby, each bagged multiple trophies at the Canneseries Awards yesterday, while The Agent: The Life and Lies of My Father won Best Docuseries. More from Deadline Norwegian Canneseries Contender 'Rebound' Back For Second Season 'Bad Sisters' Execs Ready New European Series 'Dead End' For An English-Language Remake 'Bridgerton' Star Nicola Coughlan Trashes UK Supreme Court Ruling On Definition Of A Woman A Better Man took home the Best Series, the High School Award and Best Performance, with the latter award going to lead Anders Baasmo, who is known for roles in shows such as NRK miniseries An Immortal Man, Swedish film Arn – The Kingdom at Road's End and Norway's Kon-Tiki from 2012. A Better Man follows Baasmo as Tom, a toxic male who blames feminism for everything, but is forced to hide in women's clothing when his online trolling leads to hackers exposing his identity and most embarrassing secrets. It comes from Norwegian producer Maipo Film in association with Lithuania's Artbox, and is for NRK in Norway and ZDF Neo in Germany, with Beta Film handling international sales. In the Best Series category, it beat Nepobaby, Malin-Sarah Gozin's Dead End and Jonnydepony crime caper The Big Fuck Up from Belgium, German-Belgian series How to Kill Your Sister, Finnish show L/Over, Jean Charles Hue's Malditos from France, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson-starrer Reykjavik Fusion and Korean psychological crime drama S Line. Nepobaby, meanwhile, is for TV2 in Norway and produced Eldorado Content Club, with France's Oble and Nordisk Film Distribution on sales. It's from Siri Seljeseth and Pørni creator Henriette Steestrup, who stars alongside Vivild Falk Berg, Nicolai Cleve Broch, Henriette Steenstrup, Kristin Grue, Helle Eia and Deniz Kaya It follows a woman, Emma (Berg), over one day as she discovers she is the heiress to one of Norway's oldest and wealthiest shipping dynasties, and finds her new siblings are not pleased with her existence when her estranged father passes away. The Agent: The Life and Lies of My Father is an NRK doc series about a man piecing together the life of his father, who may have been an undercover agent for the CIA. It took home the Best Docuseries award. S Line won Best Music, while Oh, Otto!, a Belgian series set in the Brussels queer community won the Best Short Form and Student awards. French actress Marie Colomb won the Rising Star Award, Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan took home the Commitment Award and Eric Rochant and the cast of his crime drama Le Bureau des Légendes bagged the icon award. Best of Deadline 'Ginny & Georgia' Season 3: Everything We Know So Far Everything We Know About The 'Reminders of Him' Movie So Far 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cobb County removes 'American Psycho' from school libraries
The Brief Cobb County leaders have removed Bret Easton Ellis' novel "American Psycho" from school libraries over what they say is "sexually explicit content." The novel, which was made into a movie in 2000, is about a New York investment banker who has a secret double life as a sadistic serial killer. It's the 36th book to be removed from the county's school libraries since 2023. COBB COUNTY, Ga. - Cobb County leaders say they've removed another novel from school libraries over what they say is "inappropriate material." With the removal of Bret Easton Ellis' "American Psycho," the school district has removed 36 books from its library shelves in the last three years. What we know Superintendent Chris Ragsdale announced the removal at a school board meeting last week, saying that the book was removed due to its "sexually explicit content." Ellis' black comedic novel, which was published in 1991, was made into a popular film starring Christian Bale in 2000. The novel follows Patrick Bateman, a New York investment banker who hides a secret sadistic double life as a serial killer. The book's subject matter has been a source of controversy for decades, with many libraries and schools either banning it or challenging its inclusion since its publication. Some other countries have limited its sale to only people 18 years old or older. What they're saying "The Cobb County School District is not engaging in book-banning or book-burning," Ragsdale has said. "We are following well-established federal and state law and policies and practices of this District that have been with us for years, if not decades. Instruction in this District is built around Georgia state standards, not any individual or group's political agenda." The backstory "American Psycho" is the fourth book removed from school libraries in Cobb County this year. Last month, the county removed Jason Myer's "2011 novel "Dead End," which centers around a runaway teenage couple that features sexual assault, drug use, and graphic violence. Other books that have been removed include: "Triangles" by Ellen Hopkins explores the intertwined lives of three women, each grappling with personal struggles, desires, and the complexities of adulthood. The book delves into themes of love, infidelity, parenthood, loss, and self-discovery. "A Stolen Life" by Jaycee Dugard is a true crime book by American kidnapping victim Jaycee Dugard, who spent 18 years sequestered and enslaved in California. The memoir describes what she died to survive and cope mentally with extreme abuse. "Laid" by James Dawson: This book is said to serve as a guide for teenagers navigating sexual relationships, offering advice on consent, safe sex, and emotional well-being, framed in a humorous and approachable manner. "Crank" by Ellen Hopkins: A powerful novel-in-verse that follows Kristina, a teenage girl whose life spirals out of control after she becomes addicted to crystal meth, leading to devastating consequences for herself and those around her. "Tricks" by Ellen Hopkins: This novel explores the lives of five teenagers, each grappling with their own issues and ultimately turning to prostitution as a means of survival, highlighting the harsh realities of exploitation and despair. "Push" by Sapphire: This raw and intense novel tells the story of Precious, an illiterate teenager in Harlem who endures horrific abuse but finds hope and empowerment through education and the support of those who believe in her. "Push" won several awards, including the Book-of-the-Month Club Stephen Crane Award for First Fiction and was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. The film adaptation "Precious" won several Oscars, including Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay. The movie was rated R. "Milk and Honey" by Rupi Kaur: A collection of poetry and prose divided into four parts, each dealing with a different aspect of life, love, loss, and healing, with a focus on the female experience and resilience. "It Starts with Us" by Colleen Hoover: A sequel to "It Ends with Us," this novel continues the story of Lily and Atlas, delving into their pasts and exploring themes of love, forgiveness, and second chances. "The Infinite Moment of Us" by Lauren Myracle: A contemporary romance that follows two teenagers, Wren and Charlie, during the summer after high school as they navigate love, identity, and the challenges of transitioning into adulthood. "The Casual Vacancy" by J.K. Rowling: A darkly comic novel that explores the complexities of a small English town after the unexpected death of a local councilman, revealing the deep-seated tensions and secrets among the residents. "Identical" by Ellen Hopkins: This novel-in-verse tells the harrowing story of identical twin sisters, Kaeleigh and Raeanne, who struggle with the trauma of their abusive father, leading them down paths of self-destruction and mental anguish. "Boys Aren't Blue" by George M. Johnson: A memoir-manifesto that discusses the author's experiences growing up as a Black queer man, addressing themes of identity, family, and societal expectations through a series of personal essays. This book has been highly praised by critics and was nominated for several awards, including the ALA Stonewall Book Award and was listed as a William C. Morris YA Debut Award finalist. "Juliet Takes a Breath" by Gabby Rivera: This coming-of-age novel follows Juliet, a young Puerto Rican woman from the Bronx, who comes out as gay and spends a transformative summer in Portland, Oregon, exploring her identity and activism. This book was highly acclaimed and was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award in LGBTQ Children's/Young Adult. "Monday's Not Coming" by Tiffany D. Jackson: A gripping mystery about Claudia, a young girl determined to find her missing best friend Monday, and uncover the dark truths that surround her disappearance and the community's indifference. This book won the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent and was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Young Adult. "City of Thieves" by David Benioff: Set during the Siege of Leningrad in World War II, this novel follows Lev and Kolya, two unlikely companions on a dangerous mission to find a dozen eggs for a Soviet colonel, blending dark humor with the horrors of war. "Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl" by Jesse Andrews: This darkly comedic novel follows Greg, a high school senior who, along with his friend Earl, befriends a girl with leukemia. The book was adapted into an award-winning film in 2015, gaining significant critical acclaim. The movie was rated PG-13. "Flamer" by Mike Curato: A graphic novel set in the summer before high school, following a boy named Aiden as he struggles with his identity, bullying, and self-acceptance. The book has received several awards, including the Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ Young Adult Fiction. "Blankets" by Craig Thompson: An autobiographical graphic novel that explores themes of family, faith, and first love. It is a highly acclaimed work that won several prestigious awards, including two Eisner Awards and two Harvey Awards. "It Ends with Us" by Colleen Hoover: This novel tells the story of Lily, a woman caught in a complex and abusive relationship. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky: A coming-of-age story about a high school freshman named Charlie, dealing with trauma, friendship, and self-discovery. It was adapted into a successful film in 2012, and the book has won numerous awards, including the ALA's Best Books for Young Adults. The film was rated PG-13. "Lucky" by Alice Sebold: A memoir recounting the author's experience of being raped in college and the impact it had on her life. It has been critically acclaimed and was a New York Times Notable Book. "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher: A novel about a teenage girl who leaves behind cassette tapes explaining her reasons for suicide. The book was adapted into a highly controversial Netflix series and has won awards like the California Book Award for Young Adult Literature. The TV series was rated TV-MA. The Source Information for this story came from the Cobb County School District and previous FOX 5 reporting.
